Noni B (NBL)

A higher than expected profit this year has seen the share price of women’s fashion retailer
Noni B
rise 13 per cent since July 19. The retailer is hoping to make a full-year after-tax profit of between $2.5 million and $2.7 million, a significant improvement from last year’s profit of $200,000. Given the challenging retail environment there was no major growth in sales revenue, which increased by 2 per cent to $119.7 million. The improvement in profit resulted from management’s focus on costs, customer service, selling higher-margin clothes and other initiatives – including a free “styling by appointment" service and the introduction of a “Your voice" section on the retailers’ website to enable direct communication with customers. The Noni B online store, which was launched in September 2011, has also had steady revenue growth. Its share price has been rising in value, and has gained more than 40 per cent since last year.